Robin de Jesús
American actor
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Robin de Jesús is an American film and theater actor of Puerto Rican descent. He has received Tony Award nominations for his roles in In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, and The Boys in the Band. He is also known for portraying Michael in tick, tick... BOOM!.
Robin de Jesús | |
|---|---|
De Jesús in 2022 | |
| Born | Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2003–present |
Life and career
Robin de Jesús was born in Norwalk, Connecticut.[1]
His first major role was as Michael in the independent film Camp (2003), where he plays a gay teen who gets beat up for wearing drag to his prom. While the film (which also starred Anna Kendrick) went relatively unnoticed in the mainstream, it gained a cult following among musical theater fans and teens who connected to the outcast theme.[2]
He is perhaps best known for playing the role of Sonny in the 2008 Broadway musical In the Heights,[3] for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2010, he joined the revival cast of La Cage aux Folles as Jacob, the sassy housekeeper, which earned him his second Tony Award nomination in the Featured Actor category.[4][5] The production opened at the Longacre Theatre on April 18, 2010. De Jesús left the production on February 13, 2011, replaced by Wilson Jermaine Heredia.[6] De Jesús played the role of Boq in the Broadway production of Wicked[7] at the Gershwin Theatre. In 2019, he received a third Tony Award nomination, for Best Featured Actor in a Play, for his role of Emory in The Boys in the Band.[8] He recreated the role for the 2020 film adaptation produced for Netflix.
In 2021, Jesús played Michael in the musical drama tick, tick... BOOM!, the directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, for which he received critical acclaim and a nomination for the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.[9]
Personal life
Jesús is gay.[10]
Credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Camp | Michael Flores | |
| 2006 | Fat Girls | Rudy | |
| 2011 | Gun Hill Road | Robin | |
| 2012 | Elliot Loves | Hector | |
| 2013 | Hair Brained | Romeo Torres | |
| Bert and Arnie's Guide to Friendship | Student | ||
| 2016 | 11:55 | Rubio | |
| 2020 | Milkwater | George | |
| The Boys in the Band | Emory | ||
| 2021 | tick, tick... BOOM! | Michael |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | How to Make It in America | Street teenager | Episode: "Crisp" |
| 2012–2016 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jose Silva | 5 episodes |
| 2022 | Santiago of the Seas | Pepito | Episode: "A Tale of Two-mas" |
| Would I Lie to You? | Himself | Episode: "Boy in a Barrel" | |
| 2022–2023 | Welcome to Chippendales | Ray Colon[11] | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Big Mouth | "Esperando Pelitos" performer (voice) | Episode: "The International Show" |
| 2025 | Black Rabbit | Tony | Miniseries |
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Rent | Steve/Waiter Angel (u/s) |
Broadway | |
| In the Heights | Sonny | Eugene O'Neill Theater Center | ||
| 2007 | Off-Broadway | |||
| 2008–2010 | Broadway; February 14, 2008 – February 14, 2010 | |||
| 2010–2011 | La Cage aux Folles | Jacob | Broadway revival; April 6, 2010 – February 14, 2011 | |
| 2012 | Aladdin | Aladdin | The Muny | |
| 2013 | Domesticated | Bar Patron | Lincoln Center Theater | |
| In the Heights | Sonny | United Palace of Cultural Arts | ||
| 2014 | Grease | Doody | Paper Mill Playhouse | |
| Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade[12][13] | Jack Dorsey | New York Musical Theatre Festival | ||
| 2014–2016 | Wicked | Boq | Broadway; December 16, 2014 – January 31, 2016 | |
| 2016 | Cabaret | The Emcee | Wells Fargo Pavilion | |
| 2017 | In the Heights | Usnavi | Olney Theatre Center | |
| 2017–2018 | Wicked | Boq | "Munchkinland" national tour; May 2, 2017 – March 12, 2018 | |
| 2018 | The Boys in the Band | Emory | Broadway revival | |
| 2023 | Little Shop of Horrors | Seymour Krelborn | The Muny | |
| 2026 | Night Side Songs | Ensemble | Claire Tow Theater |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Ensemble Performance | In the Heights | Won |
| 2008 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | La Cage aux Folles | Nominated | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play | The Boys in the Band | Nominated |
| 2021 | Satellite Award | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | tick, tick... BOOM! | Nominated |
| Hollywood Critics Association Film Award | Best Supporting Actor[14] | Nominated | ||
| 2026 | Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Ensemble[15] | Night Side Songs | Pending |
